Commentary on Prov Ecc SoS Isa Jer Lam Eze Dan, Ezekiel · Chapter 45
CHAP. XLV.
Ver. 1. MOreover when ye ſhall divide by lot] As chap. 48. where we have the diviſion of the land, and the ſeveral ſeats aſſigned to each Tribe. Here we have firſt proviſion made for the Church-ſervice, which Chriſts people are moſt zealous of, and do therefore allot, before any divident, a portion for the Lords houſe and ſervants; and that very large, to prefigure the largeneſs of the Church of the New Teſtament. See Rev. 7.9, 10, &c. Here Hierom acknowledgeth himſelf to be in a Labyrinth: the Jews call again for their Elias: Oecolampadius comes in with his Hujus loci myſteria tacitus veneror, and thinks this part of the Prophecy ſuch as no humane underſtanding can fathom. Howbeit Nil desperandum Chriſto duce, & auſpice Chriſto.
The length ſhall be] See the Note on chap. 40.1.
Ver. 2. For the ſuburbs] Which hath its name in Hebrew from its being ſevered from the City, and as it were caſt out of it. It is better rendred, as in the margin, void places.
Ver. 3. The length of five and twenty thouſand] Here the ſame again is repeated, as ver. 1. and further is ſhewed how this holy portion of ground was to be employed to the uſe of the Prieſts.
Ver. 4. And it ſhall be a place for their houſes] Miniſters ſhould be reſident upon their charges, and as incumbent, dwell near, and as it were lean over their work.
Ver. 5. For twenty chambers] i. e. For twenty rows of chambers.
Ver. 6. And ye ſhall appoint the poſſeſſion of the City] After the Church-ſervice ſettled, and the Miniſtry provided for.Polit. l. 7. c. 8. Ariſtotle his advice is foreign firſt take care of divine things; that's the beſt policy.
It ſhall be for the whole houſe of Iſrael] A Rendezvous for them at feſtival-times.
Ver. 7. And a portion ſhall be for the Prince] See on chap. 44.3. Underſtand it of the civil Magiſtrate, who is Lord-Keeper of both Tables of the Law, and ought to have a ſpecial care of the Churches welfare. Here his portion is ſaid to lye on both ſides of the oblation of the holy portion: and Cant. 8.9. Magiſtrates are required to hem Miniſters in with boards of Cedar, i. e. to provide for their ſecurity, that they may be without fear among them, as Timothy, 1 Cor. 16.10.
Ver. 8. And my Princes ſhall no more oppreſſe my people] As Samuel foretold they would do, 1 Sam. 9. and accordingly they did. But in the Chriſtian-Commonwealth it ſhould be better, as indeed it was in the dayes of Conſtantine the Great, Valentinian and Theodoſius (which three godly Emperours called themſelves the Vaſſals of Chriſt) and is now (bleſſed be God) amongſt us at this day.
Ver. 9. Let it ſuffice you] Be content with your double portion, your ſo large a lot: and that ye may be ſo, hear the laws that I lay upon you: remove violence and ſpoil, execute judgment and juſtice. Take away your exactions, &c. See that ye have juſt balances and a juſt Ephah. Let theſe things be done, or you will be quickly undone. Is it not enough to be above men, but you muſt needs be above mankind, as thoſe Princes would be that would not be under the Law!
Ver. 10. Ye ſhall have just balances] Levit. 19 35, 36. Prov. 11.1. & 16 11. & 20.10, 23. Mic. 6.10, 11. See the Notes on thoſe places. The Goſpel-rule is, whatſoever ye would that men ſhould do to you, do ye even ſo to them, Mat. 7.12. And, Let no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: becauſe that the Lord is the avenger of all ſuch; and the civil Magiſtrate is his Miniſter, a revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil either by force or fraud, Rom. 13.4.
Ver. 11. The Ephah and the Bath ſhall be of one meaſure] Of the ſame capacity; only the Ephah is the meaſure of dry things, and the Bath of moiſt.
Ver. 12. And the Shekel ſhall be twenty Gerah's] Exod. 30.13. Lev. 27.25. Num. 3.47.
Fifteen Shekels ſhall be your Maneh] Or foreign Mina, pound-weight.
Ver. 13. This is the oblation] After order taken that both Prince and people might have whereof to make oblations, ver. 9, 10, 11, 12. here follow laws concerning theſe matters alſo.
Ver. 14. Out of the Cor, which is an Homer] Only Cor is the Chaldee word, Homer the Hebrew.
Ver. 15. Out of the fat paſtures] Thoſe that are well watered and moſt fruitful. God muſt have the very best of the beſt, and that on pain of an heavy curſe, Mal. 1.14.
Ver. 16. For the Prince] i. e. Upon a levy made by the Prince for that purpoſe. Of theſe oblations (prefiguring Evangelical ſacrifices) the uſe followeth, chap. 46.4. it being firſt premiſed what the Prince ſhould do over and above theſe offerings of wheat, barley, oyl, and lambes.
Ver. 17. He ſhall prepare the ſin-offering] Or he ſhall offer, ſo ſome render it; and apply it to Chriſt, ſo ver. 22. This Prince then is withal a Prieſt of the tribe of Judah. Oecol.See Pſal. 110 4. & Heb. 7.11, 12, &c. to the end. Heb. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Non mirum quod hic haereant Judaei, here the Jews are puzzled.
Ver. 18. Thou ſhalt take] Thou O Prince ſhalt.
A young bullock] One and no more: ut unitas ſingularis ſacrificii Chriſti intimaretur.
Ver. 19. And put it upon the poſtes] This and other ceremonies were not enjoyned by the Law of Moſes. The Jews cannot tell what to ſay to it: they will not ſee that old things are paſt, and all things become new.
Ver. 20. And ſo thou ſhalt] This alſo is a new injunction, ſee ver. 19. and very comfortable to thoſe that ſin of paſſion, or precipitancy. See 1 Joh. 2.1, 2.
Ver. 21. In the fourteenth day] Upon that very day (not only obſerved then by the Jews) was Chriſt our Paſſeover ſacrificed for us, 1 Cor. 5.7.
Ver. 22. Shall the Prince prepare] See ver. 17.
Ver. 23. A burnt-offering] In token of ſelf-denial.
Ver. 24. A meat-offering] Made of meale in token of mortification, and ſubmiſſion to God in all things.
Ver. 25. In the feaſt of the ſeven dayes] i. e. Of Tabernacles, wont to be of eight dayes, Lev. 23.34, 35. Quam ſunt nova omnia! Of Pentecoſt here is no mention at all.